In an instant, the flames transformed into a giant blazing figure in the shape of a beast. Red and orange flares swirled as heat scorched the air. The flaming beast roared fiercely, baring its fiery fangs and claws, exuding the ferocity of a wild creature.
“I’ll give you props for forcing me to use this spell,” Jack taunted with a grin. “Fire is the symbol of absolute power… I’ve been fascinated by it since I was a child, and it’s the magic I’m best at. I’ve been honing it all my life! Take her down!” Jack roared and swung both arms. The flame beast, moving as if it had a life of its own, leapt at Yuffie with incredible force, ready to devour her.
“You won’t stand a chance if that hits you! Yuffie, surrender!” Erina’s screams rang out in vain as the flame beast undulated ferociously and rushed toward Yuffie, showing no mercy. Its aura was overwhelming. The sight of it on the attack evoked boundless fear.
But Yuffie herself remained completely calm.
“Grand Wall.”
She stretched out her hands in front of her, and a huge earthen wall appeared.
“Are you freaking kidding me?!” Jack’s cry of surprise was drowned out by a rumbling sound that reverberated everywhere.
The earthen wall, towering like a mountain, greeted the giant fire beast. With a roar so loud it nearly burst their eardrums, the Roaring Flame Beast crashed into the wall.
“Gaaah!”
The force of the explosion blasted Jack backwards. The spectators felt the impact too, and they instinctively tried to protect themselves. The fiery beast’s angry roar echoed in the air as it tried to smash through the earthen wall, but it swallowed the inferno whole—like an ancient giant crushing a person. The sturdy earthen wall remained standing without any damage, protecting Yuffie from the attack. A few moments later, the cloud of light and dust cleared.
“Is this…actually happening?” Erina murmured.
Yuffie was unharmed, and there wasn’t even a single scorch mark on her clothes. Only a massive burn remained on the earthen wall, the remains of the flame beast that had come to life to burn everything to ashes.
“I don’t believe this…” Edward also seemed unable to fully accept the reality.
“…Three elements,” Lyle muttered.
I knew she could use fire and water magic… But I didn’t expect earth magic, too… he thought.
There existed five basic elements of offensive magic: fire, water, wind, earth, and lightning. Normally, people focused on one element and mastered it. However, the particularly talented could master two elements after spending a considerable amount of time training, which was the case for Lyle. Only the most skilled could even achieve competency in three or four attributes; most of them joined the palace’s Advanced Magic Division and became famous as the country’s shield. Incidentally, no historical records existed of magicians who could use all five elemental magics.
She never ceases to amaze… Yuffie had just shown him something that went beyond common sense, and Lyle could only let out a dry chuckle. A girl who can wield three elemental magics at such a young age, and she’s only a first year at the Academy…
“No, hold on.” Lyle’s breath caught. A thought so ridiculous he had never even considered popped into his head. “Is it possible…she can use the other attributes too…?”
Meanwhile, Jack staggered to his feet, despair etched into his face. “No way… No freaking way…”
Fire magic that he had spent nearly ten years perfecting. Even with his most advanced technique, the culmination of all his skills, he’d been unable to even scratch Yuffie. The gap between their powers was overwhelming. And she hadn’t even revealed her own attack moves to him. Unable to accept this fact, Jack stood there dazed.
“Are you okay?!” She quickly dispelled the rock wall and ran towards him.
“Stay away from me, you idiot!” Jack shouted.
Yuffie stopped, her shoulders shaking. “I’m sorry, I accidentally used too much energy…” Her flustered apology dealt the final blow to his wounded pride, shattering it.
“Damn you, damn you, damn you! You’re mocking me!”
Jack was furious. All of his attacks had been blocked by a girl who should have only been capable of using healing magic. A commoner beneath his notice. It was a humiliating feeling, as if all the magic he’d built up until now had been rejected. A fiery burst of emotion exploded in his chest.
No way… No way in hell am I accepting her!
Anger, frustration, and a desire not to lose. These intense emotions gave Jack strength. He braced himself and tried to cast magic again. Unfortunately for him…
“Ngh…”
His body swayed unsteadily; his eyes were unfocused, and he looked like he was on the verge of falling.
“Jack, don’t! If you use any more magic, you know there will be side effects!” Edward shouted from the audience seating.
Yuffie was taken aback. Side effects! Oh, right, we learned about that in class…
If you used too much magic, you would suffer from something called “side effects.” They apparently appeared as various malfunctions in the body. Yuffie wouldn’t know, as she had personally never experienced this phenomenon before. Symptoms included headache, nausea, and in severe cases, the patient might end up bedridden for days. In the worst case, one could even die.
Jack had poured almost all of his mana into that tremendous spell, and he was now experiencing the side effects.
“I can’t let him fight anymore at this point…!” As someone aiming to become a Saint, Yuffie couldn’t let him push himself too hard. “Um, um! Shouldn’t we stop now? You look like you’re exhausted…”
“Shut up, don’t underestimate me! I can’t lose like this!”
Argh, you dummy! You just added fuel to the fire!
Ignoring Yuffie’s pleas, Jack thrust his palm forward.
“Fire…”
“Stun Shock!” Yuffie chanted before Jack could.
“Dwaaah?!”
Oh, no! I’ve done it now!
Not wanting to drag the fight out any longer, she reflexively unleashed a lightning spell. She had meant to reduce the output to the bare minimum so Jack couldn’t move, but instead, Jack just stood there as his eyes rolled back in his head.
Silence returned.
Erina and Edward were speechless.
“Yuffie, you…” Lyle walked on unsteady feet over to Yuffie and asked, “You can use four attributes…?”
“N-No…” She shook her head in fear before casting another spell. “Divine Wind.”
Jack was about to lose consciousness and collapse, but Yuffie used wind magic to lay him down slowly on the ground.
“I-I can use them all…”
💠🌸💠
✦ ✦ ✦
THE cave yawned as if enveloped in darkness. Only the sound of dripping water echoed occasionally, and an eerie silence hung in the pitch black space. The air was chilly, and the many rocks scattered in the darkness spoke of the cave’s vastness.
Two figures stood deep inside it. One was a silhouette with a hood pulled down low, his face consumed by the darkness, and his form unclear. His feet planted firmly on the ground, he exuded a calm confidence. The other was a strange being that suddenly appeared from the jet black shadows. It was the very embodiment of wriggling darkness.
“The Flame Cerberus was defeated?” A muffled voice rang out in the blackness. Both surprise and anger colored it. “Any casualties on the student side?”
The hooded man spoke quietly, “Zero…”
“That’s impossible.” This time, the voice was clearly tinged with shock.
“Who is it? Who did this?” the shadow questioned the hooded man sharply.
“A female student named Yuffie Abisus,” he answered with trembling lips.
“You must be joking?”
Suddenly, a light like a flame shot out of the darkness, blowing off the man’s wrist.
“Gaaaaaah!” The man fell to the ground, screaming in pain. The shadow then stomped on his head. “I’m telling the truth…! Please, please believe me!” the man pleaded, his face stained with tears and sweat. “I saw her! She took the Flame Cerebrus down on her own!”
The shadow was silent for just a moment before he finally released the man’s head. Something tentacle-like stretched out. A green light glowed, then the man’s hand quickly returned to its original form.
“Haa… Haa…” the hooded man cradled his hand as he panted.
“Yuffie Abisus…” The shadow’s voice was ominous. “Capture her,” it commanded, refusing to tolerate any objections. “And eliminate every last member of the student council. Carry out the plan no matter what.”
“I-I understand…”
“Should you fail…” The shadow stretched and pressed the man’s neck against the rock wall.
“Ngh…?!”
“Next time, I’ll incinerate you, head and all.”
It was a cruel declaration, an unavoidable warning. Due to fear and lack of oxygen, the man nodded repeatedly. That was the end of the conversation, and soon silence descended. All that remained was the eerie plip plip of water dripping.